Browse By All Topics

Browse By Subject

Hepatitis B and C: Should I Be Tested?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Your options

Have a blood test for hepatitis B or hepatitis
C.

Do not have the test.

Key points to remember

Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know
that they have it until they get tested.

If you get tested and find out that you have hepatitis, you
could face a hard decision about treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C may have
serious side effects during the 6 to 12 months or longer that you take it. And
it doesn't always work. It also costs a lot if you don't have insurance or if
your insurance doesn't cover all of the costs.

People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the
disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But both types can cause serious
liver problems, such as
cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. Treatment
may prevent liver problems in some people.

Some people get
hepatitis B or C even though they never used illegal drugs or never had more
than one sex partner.

You can get shots to keep from getting
hepatitis A or B, but no shot is available to prevent hepatitis C.

If you know
that you have hepatitis, you can take steps to keep from spreading it to
others.

Having to tell friends and family that you have hepatitis
could affect your relationships.

If you test positive, you could
have trouble getting health insurance.

Hepatitis
causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B and C are spread through infected
blood and body fluids. Hepatitis B is spread most often during sexual contact
and when people share needles to inject drugs.

Hepatitis C also
is spread through shared needles. Both types can be spread when an infected
person shares items such as razors or toothbrushes.

Sometimes a
baby is infected at birth because the mother has hepatitis.

Less
common causes include:

Getting a tattoo or body piercing with a
needle that was not sterile.

Getting an accidental needle stick
from a dirty needle.

Having received a
blood transfusion before 1992 (hepatitis C).

Many people get hepatitis without knowing how they got
it. And many people have hepatitis for years without knowing it, because they
have no symptoms.

Both hepatitis B and C can cause serious liver
problems, such as
cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. But some
people never have serious problems.

Most adults who get hepatitis
B have it for a short time and then get better on their own.

Most
people who get hepatitis C will have a long-term infection that may never go
away, even with treatment.

You can have a
blood test to find out if you have
hepatitis B or
hepatitis C. A small amount of blood is drawn from
your arm. The blood is sent to a lab.

The test looks for
hepatitis
antibodies. Having these antibodies means that you
have been exposed to hepatitis, but it does not mean that you now have an
active infection.

If the test shows that you have been exposed to
hepatitis B or C, your blood may be tested again to see if the virus is still
in your blood. The second test shows whether you have an active hepatitis
infection. For the second test, the lab may use some of the blood that was
already drawn, or you may need to have more blood drawn.

If you find
out that you have hepatitis B or C, you have to decide whether to get
treatment.

A new hepatitis B infection in adults usually
does not need to be treated. It usually goes away on its own. But in some
people it leads to long-term (chronic) infection and serious liver
problems.

Some of the medicines used to treat hepatitis B have few or no side effects. But others can cause
serious side effects, such as constant tiredness, headaches, a fever, nausea,
thyroid problems, or
depression.

The medicines used to treat
hepatitis C can cause serious side effects during the 6
to 12 months or longer that you take them. Side effects can include constant
tiredness, headaches, a fever, nausea, thyroid problems, or
depression. Some people stop treatment because the
medicine makes them too ill. And the treatment doesn't always work.

Personal stories about hepatitis testing

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

I have been
sexually active for years and have had at least a dozen sex partners. I'm going
to have a hepatitis test. I have a friend who went through treatment a year or
so ago. He was pretty miserable, but he came out all right. If he can do it, I
can. I think I owe it to myself to find out if I have
hepatitis.

Jax, age
40

I had several sex partners when I was in
my 20s, but I don't consider myself promiscuous. I worry that I could have
hepatitis, but the treatment sounds very unpleasant and might not even work. I
think the odds are in my favor that I don't have hepatitis, so I'm not going to
be tested.

Karen, age
33

I did drugs in my teens and shared needles
a couple of times. I also got a tattoo in Tijuana over spring break one year. I
just recently read an article about hepatitis C, and I think I'll get tested. I
don't want to deal with the treatment decision right now, but I want to know if
I have it.

Malik, age
29

I lived with a woman who had hepatitis C,
and I watched her go through the treatment. She had a rough time of it for a
year. I don't think I could handle feeling that sick for so long. So I'm not going
to be tested, because I
don't think I would go through the treatment even if it turned out I have hepatitis.

Sam, age
44

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to get tested for hepatitis

Reasons not to get tested for hepatitis

If I tested positive, I would be willing to deal with the side effects of treatment.

I wouldn't be willing to put myself through the side effects of treatment.

More important

Equally important

More important

If I tested positive, I would want to tell people I might have given it to, so they could get tested.

I wouldn't want to tell people, because I'm worried that it would hurt my relationships.

More important

Equally important

More important

I want to know for sure if I need to use condoms and take other steps so that I don't spread hepatitis.

I'm already careful. I use condoms every time I have sex.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm more worried about having hepatitis than I am about not getting health insurance.

I'm more worried that I might not be able to get private health insurance than I am about having hepatitis.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Getting tested

NOT getting tested

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.

If I get hepatitis, I need treatment to get better.

TrueSorry, that's not right. People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But treatment may keep long-term hepatitis B or C infection from causing serious liver problems.

FalseYou're right. People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But treatment may keep long-term hepatitis B or C infection from causing serious liver problems.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But treatment may prevent serious liver problems.

2.

I might never know that I have hepatitis if I don't get tested.

TrueYou're right. Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it until they get tested.

FalseSorry, that's not correct. Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it until they get tested.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it until they get tested.

3.

My getting tested might help other people.

TrueThat's right. If you have hepatitis, you can take steps so that you don't give it to others.

FalseSorry, that's not right. If you know that you have hepatitis, you can take steps so that you don't give it to others.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." If you know that you have hepatitis, you can take steps so that you don't give it to others.

Decide what's next

1.

Do you understand the options available to you?

2.

Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Hepatitis B and C: Should I Be Tested?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the facts

Your options

Have a blood test for hepatitis B or hepatitis
C.

Do not have the test.

Key points to remember

Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know
that they have it until they get tested.

If you get tested and find out that you have hepatitis, you
could face a hard decision about treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C may have
serious side effects during the 6 to 12 months or longer that you take it. And
it doesn't always work. It also costs a lot if you don't have insurance or if
your insurance doesn't cover all of the costs.

People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the
disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But both types can cause serious
liver problems, such as
cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. Treatment
may prevent liver problems in some people.

Some people get
hepatitis B or C even though they never used illegal drugs or never had more
than one sex partner.

You can get shots to keep from getting
hepatitis A or B, but no shot is available to prevent hepatitis C.

If you know
that you have hepatitis, you can take steps to keep from spreading it to
others.

Having to tell friends and family that you have hepatitis
could affect your relationships.

If you test positive, you could
have trouble getting health insurance.

FAQs

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis
causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B and C are spread through infected
blood and body fluids. Hepatitis B is spread most often during sexual contact
and when people share needles to inject drugs.

Hepatitis C also
is spread through shared needles. Both types can be spread when an infected
person shares items such as razors or toothbrushes.

Sometimes a
baby is infected at birth because the mother has hepatitis.

Less
common causes include:

Getting a tattoo or body piercing with a
needle that was not sterile.

Getting an accidental needle stick
from a dirty needle.

Having received a
blood transfusion before 1992 (hepatitis C).

Many people get hepatitis without knowing how they got
it. And many people have hepatitis for years without knowing it, because they
have no symptoms.

Both hepatitis B and C can cause serious liver
problems, such as
cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. But some
people never have serious problems.

Most adults who get hepatitis
B have it for a short time and then get better on their own.

Most
people who get hepatitis C will have a long-term infection that may never go
away, even with treatment.

What is the test for hepatitis?

You can have a
blood test to find out if you have
hepatitis B or
hepatitis C. A small amount of blood is drawn from
your arm. The blood is sent to a lab.

The test looks for
hepatitis
antibodies. Having these antibodies means that you
have been exposed to hepatitis, but it does not mean that you now have an
active infection.

If the test shows that you have been exposed to
hepatitis B or C, your blood may be tested again to see if the virus is still
in your blood. The second test shows whether you have an active hepatitis
infection. For the second test, the lab may use some of the blood that was
already drawn, or you may need to have more blood drawn.

What are the benefits of getting tested?

Getting tested can lead to early treatment,
which may help prevent a long-term infection.

If you know that you
have hepatitis, you may decide to tell people who may have given you the
disease, so that they can get tested. People you may have infected also could
be tested.

If you know that you have the infection, you can take
steps to avoid spreading it.

If your test shows that you don't have hepatitis B, you can get
a
vaccine
to keep you from ever getting it. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

What are the risks of getting tested?

If you find
out that you have hepatitis B or C, you have to decide whether to get
treatment.

A new hepatitis B infection in adults usually
does not need to be treated. It usually goes away on its own. But in some
people it leads to long-term (chronic) infection and serious liver
problems.

Some of the medicines used to treat hepatitis B have few or no side effects. But others can cause
serious side effects, such as constant tiredness, headaches, a fever, nausea,
thyroid problems, or
depression.

The medicines used to treat
hepatitis C can cause serious side effects during the 6
to 12 months or longer that you take them. Side effects can include constant
tiredness, headaches, a fever, nausea, thyroid problems, or
depression. Some people stop treatment because the
medicine makes them too ill. And the treatment doesn't always work.

Why might your doctor recommend that you get tested?

Your doctor might advise you to get tested for hepatitis B or C
if:

Your job or your lifestyle puts you at risk
for getting hepatitis. For example:

You work with body fluids.

You have sex without
using a condom with more than one partner.

You share needles to inject drugs.

You have
snorted (inhaled) cocaine.

2. Compare your options

Get tested for hepatitis

Don't get tested for
hepatitis

What is usually involved?

You have one or two blood
tests.

If tests show that you have hepatitis B or C, you may have other
tests to see if you have any liver damage.

You can take steps to avoid
getting or spreading hepatitis.

You can wait and see if you get
symptoms before you decide to be tested. But some people who have hepatitis
don't get symptoms.

What are the benefits?

You can be treated early, which can
prevent a long-lasting infection and liver damage.

You can take
steps to avoid spreading the disease to others.

You can tell others so that they can decide whether to be
tested.

If you don't have hepatitis B, you may decide to get the
hepatitis B vaccine
to keep you from ever getting it. There is no vaccine for hepatitis
C.

Getting tested may give you peace of mind.

You won't have to decide
whether to have treatment.

You won't have to decide whether to tell
other people that you have hepatitis.

You won't worry that test
results could keep you from getting health insurance.

What are the risks and side effects?

You have to decide
whether to have treatment, which can have serious side effects.

Telling people that you have hepatitis may be hard for you and
can affect your relationships.

If you have hepatitis, you could
have trouble getting health insurance.

You might not
find out that you have hepatitis early enough to get treatment that could slow
or stop the infection.

You won't be able to tell other people that they are at risk and
might want to get tested.

You won't know for sure whether you could
give hepatitis to others.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These
personal stories
may help you decide.

Personal stories about hepatitis testing

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"I have been sexually active for years and have had at least a dozen sex partners. I'm going to have a hepatitis test. I have a friend who went through treatment a year or so ago. He was pretty miserable, but he came out all right. If he can do it, I can. I think I owe it to myself to find out if I have hepatitis."

— Jax, age
40

"I had several sex partners when I was in my 20s, but I don't consider myself promiscuous. I worry that I could have hepatitis, but the treatment sounds very unpleasant and might not even work. I think the odds are in my favor that I don't have hepatitis, so I'm not going to be tested."

— Karen, age
33

"I did drugs in my teens and shared needles a couple of times. I also got a tattoo in Tijuana over spring break one year. I just recently read an article about hepatitis C, and I think I'll get tested. I don't want to deal with the treatment decision right now, but I want to know if I have it."

— Malik, age
29

"I lived with a woman who had hepatitis C, and I watched her go through the treatment. She had a rough time of it for a year. I don't think I could handle feeling that sick for so long. So I'm not going to be tested, because I don't think I would go through the treatment even if it turned out I have hepatitis."

— Sam, age
44

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to get tested for hepatitis

Reasons not to get tested for hepatitis

If I tested positive, I would be willing to deal with the side effects of treatment.

I wouldn't be willing to put myself through the side effects of treatment.

More important

Equally important

More important

If I tested positive, I would want to tell people I might have given it to, so they could get tested.

I wouldn't want to tell people, because I'm worried that it would hurt my relationships.

More important

Equally important

More important

I want to know for sure if I need to use condoms and take other steps so that I don't spread hepatitis.

I'm already careful. I use condoms every time I have sex.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm more worried about having hepatitis than I am about not getting health insurance.

I'm more worried that I might not be able to get private health insurance than I am about having hepatitis.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Getting tested

NOT getting tested

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.
If I get hepatitis, I need treatment to get better.

True

False

I'm not sure

You're right. People with hepatitis B or C may not need treatment if the disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But treatment may keep long-term hepatitis B or C infection from causing serious liver problems.

2.
I might never know that I have hepatitis if I don't get tested.

True

False

I'm not sure

You're right. Hepatitis often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it until they get tested.

3.
My getting tested might help other people.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's right. If you have hepatitis, you can take steps so that you don't give it to others.

Decide what's next

1.
Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Yes

No

Certainty

1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

Not sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision.

I'm ready to take action.

I want to discuss the options with others.

I want to learn more about my options.

3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Credits

By

Healthwise Staff

Primary Medical Reviewer

E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Specialist Medical Reviewer

W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology

Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.